100th, the staff decided to write a story that "had roots in the history of the show." They ultimately decided on the story involving Leela fighting for the rights of her people, the mutants, since her mutant heritage was a longstanding storyline in the series. The episode end credits feature a dedication in memory of Alex Johns, a former co-producer of Futurama who died on August 7, 2010. The episode also guest starred Mark Mothersbaugh of the 1980s American rock band Devo. The band is portrayed as the mutated future versions of themselves and their song "Beautiful World" was used in the episode. Devo's guest appearance on the show became one of Cohen's favorite moments in the series. Theme and cultural references The episode's plot contains a theme of equality and civil rights. "The Mutants Are Revolting" has been interpreted as a political warning against societies with a "disposable class" of people. It has also been interpreted as a statement about the plight of undocumented immigrants, due in part to Leela's secret status as an "illegal alien" in the series (as mutants are not allowed to live on the surface). Mr. Astor giving up his seat on the "lifeboat" for Leela's grandmother and great-grandmother may be a reference to Alfred Vanderbilt, a wealthy passenger on the Lusitania, who gave his life belt to a young woman and her child, though he himself could not swim. And Ms. Astor, whom invites the crew to the party, has a meal delivered that contains Nitroglycerin. This chemical is very explosive and is produced by nitrating glycerol with white fuming nitric acid under conditions appropriate to the formation of the nitric acid ester. The episode also contains several cultural references, including references to P. L. Travers' character Mary Poppins, the 1984 horror film C.H.U.D., and the 1997 film Titanic. The song "Bend It" by the British 1960s pop group Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich is used in this episode. The "Westside Pipeway" scene is reminiscent of a scene in the 1927 silent film Metropolis. The program suggests that Brown University is now located in the mutant underground. They refer to it as an "institution of lower learning. Leela also refers to the uprising of the mutants as the 'Million Mutant March' which references the 'Million Man March'. The episode also contains self-references, such as the inclusion of many one-time and recurring characters